Tape dispenser



Aug 17, 1948 l P. VAN cLEEF Erm. 2,447,145

TAPE DIIISPENSER` Filed June 20, 1946 Aug. 17, 1948. P. VAN CLEEF ETAL 2,447,145

TAPE DISPENSER Filed June 2o, 1946 2 sheets-'sheet 2 tented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE DISPENSER Paul Van Cleef and Frank Chonacki, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to Johns- Manville Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 20, 1946, Serial No. 677,998

This invention relates in general to tape dise* pensers. More particularly, the 4invention relats to that known type of dispenser which is expressly designed and adapted for use in handling permanently tacky or soy-called pressure sensitive 5 adhesive tape, and comprises as its principal components or :parts: (1) a frame embodying a pair of parallel laterally spaced upstanding sides, together with means for rotatably supporting the reu of tape between the sides, end (2) e piat- 10 form which is located 0r positioned adjacent the sides of the frame and in alignment with the space between the frame sides, and has adjacent its outer margin a, cutting edge for cutting the tape into lengths as it is unwound from the roll.

When it is desired, in connection with use of a tape dispenser of the aforementioned type, to sever a length of tape from the roll, the outer end o-f the tape is pulled outwards a distance corresponding to the length of tape that is desired,

and then the inner end of the pulled length is brought to the end of the platform, and into adhesively connected relation with the platform, and is severed by pulling it downwards so that it is cut by the cutting edge adjacent the outer margin of the platform.

When it is desired to cut another length from the roll, the outer end of the tape is removed from the platform and then pulled outwards, the 3U last mentioned operation being followed by the steps or operations heretofore described.

In practice, it has been found that the work or effort incident to manual stripping or removal ofthe free or outer end of the tape from the plathesive face of the tape to the platform, and the m subsequent removal thereof during dispensing or paying out of the tape, causes the upper surface of the platform to become sticky. This is not only objectionable, but is also undesirable for many reasons, as such sticky surface is ex- 45 posed, and foreign particles will adhere thereto.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome these difficulties and objections by providing a tape dispenser in which the adtained out of contact w-ith the platform and theY cutting margin or edge thereof, and in which the cut or leading end of the stock from which a length of the tape has been severed, will auto- 5 Claims. (Cl. 164-845) by the operator for drawing out another length from the roll of additional lengths of the tape to be severed.

A further object is to provide in a tape dispenser of this character, improved means for supporting or sustaining in position to be grasped by the operator, the free end of the stock or tape from which the length has been severed.

A'further object is to provide in a tape dispenser of this type, improved means for guiding the tape beneath the platform, and for maintaining the top o-r exposed surface :of the platform and `cutting edge against -being contacted by the sticky surface of the tape.

A still further object is to provide an improved dispenser of this character, which is simple in construction, and effectively and efficiently serves its intended purpose. c

To the attainment of these ends, and the ac complishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresY of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more 'fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying draw-V ings illustrating this invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tape dispenser, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View;

` Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is asimilar section of a modified form of the invention; and f Fig. 5 is a perspective of the guiding roll and the cutting means for the tape.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a supporting base provided with spaced upright side walls Il which may be of any desired size and configuration, and constructed of any suitable material. The numeral I2 designates a roll of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive tape, and this roll is provided with an axle I3, the ends of which l are adapted to enter open topy grooves I4 in the .r inner faces of the side walls, the roll may be hesive face or surface of the taupe willbe mainreadily inserted in place and also removed.-

At the forward end of the side walls Il and in alinement with the roll is a horizontal platform or ledge I5 which may be of any desired size and configuration. vPreferably the ledge is xedly matically assume a position to be readily grasped 56 secured in place by means of horizontal fastenj ing bolts or screws i6 which extend through holes in depending legs at the ends of the ledge and also into screw threaded sockets in the front portions of the side walls ll. The forward edge of the ledge is sharpened or otherwise formed to provide a cutting edge l1, the ledge and cutting edge being so positioned that the tape I8 that is being delivered from the roll I2 may pass thereunder. In order to guide the tape under the ledge with its cutting edge there is provided a roller I9 which is engaged by the tacky adhesive face of the tape.

In operation, the forward end of the tape passes over the guiding roller i9 with the tacky face facing downwards and in engagement with the roller, and is directed beneath the ledge I and also the cutting edge l1, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, so that the forward end 29 of the tape will be suspended in such a position that the operator may readily grasp the same to draw .more of the tape from the roll. Inasmuch as the tacky surface of the tape will face downwardly and away from the ledge, as shown in Fig. 3, it may be readily grasped by the operator. If desired, and in order to draw more of the tape from the roll, the operator may engage the lower surface of the forward end of the tape, and press the non-tacky surface of the tape against the lower face of the ledge I5 and cutting edge Il. This will cause the tape to adhere to the finger of the operator, and he may then lower his linger, with the tape adhering thereto, into a position to be grasped with the thumb and fore-finger. When a suicient quantity of the tape has been drawn off the roll, the forward portion thereof may be severed by swinging the tape upwards and at the same time drawing it transversely across the cutting edge i1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It sometimes happens that the tape =is very thin and flexible and hence tends to drop and contact a part of the framework, so that it will not be in a convenient position to be grasped by the operator. In order to overcome this difficulty, when a thin tape is employed, there may be provided an additional roller 2l, which is rotatably supported in any suitable manner, such as by means of brackets 22, arranged beneath the ledge i5 and sufficiently close to the lower face thereof so as to support the forward end 23 of the tape in a position to be grasped by the operator, as shown in Fig. 4. The roller 2l extends horizontally and is so positioned that the end of the tape when hanging from the roller is spaced in front of the front wall of the framework that embodies the base il) and the sidewalls Il.

If the additional roller 2l is employed the tape may be drawn from the roll in the same manner as described in connection with the form of the invention that is shown in Fig. 3.

In order to permit the user to observe the position of the free end of the tape i8 beneath the ledge l5 and the cutting edge l? and thus facilitate grasping such end, a portion 24 of the ledge l5, or the entire ledge, may be made of transparent material. In lieu of the transparent portion 24, the ledge may be cut out to provide a sight opening therethrough.

Means may also be provided for determining or measuring the length of tape dispensed, and to that end a measuring device such as a ruler 25 may be suitably mounted so as to swing about a vertical pivot 26 in order that it may be swung into a position to extend lengthwise of the tape that is being .paid out, and also swung in the opposite direction into an inoperative position 4 wherein it extends longitudinally across the ledge l5 and does not interfere with the tape being cut or torn olf. As shown in Figure 4, the pivot 26 extends through aligned holes in one end of the ruler and one end of the ledge.

While the preferred forms of the invention have beenherein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction, and iin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A device adapted to dispense strips from material with a icoating of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive on one face thereof, and embodying means for holding a supply of the material, a stationary cutting element provided with a cutting edge at its front and disposed in front of the holding means, a pair of freely ro- \-.t atable rollers disposed in the rear of the cutting edge of said cutting element, said rollers being spaced one in advance of the other, one of said rollers operating to guide the material under said cutting element with the non-tacky surface of the material adjacent the cutting element, the other of said rollers serving to support the free end of the material. in position to be grasped by the operator, the lmaterial .contacting surface of said other roller being disposed below the material contacting surface of the guiding roller.

2. A device adapted to dispense strips from a roll of material with a coating of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive on one face thereof, and embodying means for rotatably holding the roll, a ledge positioned in alinement with the roll and having a forward cutting edge, means for guiding the material beneath said ledge with the non-tacky surface adjacent said ledge, said means being so disposed with respect to the said cutting edge that after a strip is severed by the cutting edge the tacky face of the one end of the next following portion of the material may be engaged by the linger of the operator and pressed against the bottom of said ledge in order to cause the material to adhere to the finger and thus facilitates drawing of the material from the roll, said means embodying a roller mounted for free rotation and arranged so that it is engaged by the tacky face of the material, and a second roller mounted for free rotation, spaced in advance of the first roller and in a lower horizontal plane, positioned beneath and directly rearwards of said `cutting edge, and adapted to serve as a support from which the free end of the material depends prior to being gripped by the operator in connection with the next strip severing operation.

3. A device adapted for use in dispensing a roll of tape with a coating of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive on one face thereof, and embodying means for rotatably supporting the roll, a ledge positioned in alinement with the roll and having a tape-cutting instrumentality associated therewith and located forwards thereof, guide means to direct the `tape Ybeneath said ledge and so that the non-tacky face of the tape is in .contact with the bottom surface of the ledge, and a sight opening formed in the said ledge yand adapted to permit the user of the device to see the portion of the tape that is below the ledge.

4. A device adapted for use in dispensing a roll of tape of the type that has on the inner side face a coating of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive, and comprising a framework embodying a front wall and Va pair of laterally spaced side margins of the front wall, means associated with the framework for supporting the roll between theside walls thereof, an elongated, hori zontally positioned leg located in front of, and slightly above, the upper margin of the frameif fwork front wall, provided at the front thereof with a 4cutting edge, and having at its ends a pair of depending legs connected Xedly to said side margins of the front wall of the framework, and a horizontal, small sized, freely rotatable roller positioned between the upper corners of the framework side walls and directly behind the ledge, adapted to have the tape drawn over it with the adhesive coating facing downwards and engaging it, and serving to guide and direct the free end of the tape so that it extends through the space between the upper portion of the legs and also under the ledge and has its untacky outu side waus extending rearwards from'the *2" nl work side walls and directly behind the ledge,

adapted to have the tape drawn over it with the adhesive coating facing downwards and engaging it, and serving to guide and direct the free end of the tape so that it extendsthrough the spacebetween .the upper portions of the legs and also under the ledge and has its untacky outer side facing opposite the under surface of the Y ledge, and a second horizontal, small sized, freely er side face opposite the under surface of the/ ledge. Y

5. A device adapted for use in dispensing a roll of tape of the type that has on the inner side face a coating of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive, and comprising a frameworkv of depending legs connected Xedly to said sicleV margins of the front wall of the framework, a, horizontal, small sized, freely rotatable roller, positioned between the upper corners of the framerotatable roller positioned in advance of the first mentioned roller and in a lower horizontal plane, disposed directly beneath the rear portion of the ledge and behind said cutting edge, and adapted to form a support whereby, priol` to the next following tape severing operation, the free end of the tape is supported in a depending manner in front of, and in spaced relation with, the front wall of the framework.

PAUL VAN CLEEF.

FRANK CHONACKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,972,850 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,851 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1934 2,138,338 Gasasco Nov. 29, 1938 2,233,361 Anderson Feb. 25, 1941 2,251,942 Kimball Aug. 12, 1941 2,324,204 Fischer July 13, 1943 2,366,971 Krueger Jan, 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Number Country Date 454,241 France Apr. 23, 1913 

